Performing updates to action items in an electronic communication application with a single input

Abstract

Described is a system and method for automatically updating an action item in an electronic communication application using a single input or click from a user. In response to received input, an electronic communication having a mailto link is automatically generated. The mailto link includes the email address of the intended recipient, an identifier associated with the action item, and the update that is to be performed on the action item. The electronic communication is then automatically provided to the intended recipient and the update is performed on the action item.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system, comprising:
 a processing unit; and 
 a memory storing computer executable instructions that, when executed by the processing unit, causes the system to perform a method, comprising: 
 in response to a single received input:
 generating a mailto link for an electronic communication in an electronic communication application, the mailto link comprising an email address of an intended recipient, an identifier associated with an action item and a subject portion that corresponds to an action to be performed on the action item; and 
 appending a header to the mailto link that causes the electronic message to:
 be automatically sent to the intended recipient without generating an electronic message compose form; and 
 automatically create or update the action item associated with the electronic communication application according to the identifier and the subject portion of the mailto link. 
 
 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the action item is associated with one or more of a task in the electronic communication application, a calendar item in the electronic communication application, or a meeting request associated with the electronic communication application. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein automatically updating the action item comprises cancelling the action item. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising instructions for determining whether the intended recipient is the same as the sender of the electronic communication. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 4 , further comprising instructions for automatically sending the electronic communication to the intended recipient only when the intended recipient is the same as the sender of the electronic communication. 
     
     
       6. A method for updating an action item in an electronic communication application, comprising:
 receiving a single input that indicates the action item that is to be updated; and 
 in response to receiving the single input:
 automatically generating a mailto link for an electronic communication without generating an electronic message compose form, the mailto link comprising:
 an email address of the intended recipient; 
 an identifier associated with an action item and a subject portion that includes information about the action item that is to be updated including an update to be performed on the action item; and 
 an indication that the electronic communication is to be automatically sent to the intended recipient; and 
 
 automatically sending the electronic communication to a remote computing device that parses the information contained in the electronic communication to identify the update on the action item; 
 automatically updating the action item according to the identifier and the subject portion of the mailto link. 
 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , further comprising determining whether the intended recipient is the same as a composer of the electronic communication. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , further comprising automatically sending the electronic communication to the intended recipient when it is determined that the intended recipient is the same as the composer of the electronic communication. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the action item is associated with one or more of a calendar item associated with the electronic communication application, a meeting request associated with the electronic communication application, and a task associated with the electronic communication application. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the electronic communication is an email. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the update is a request to cancel the action item. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 6 , further comprising receiving a communication containing the update from the remote computing device without displaying the communication in an inbox of the electronic communication application. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the update is an indication that a task has been completed. 
     
     
       14. A method for generating an electronic communication for updating an action item in an electronic communication application, comprising:
 automatically generating a mailto link in response to a single received input without generating an electronic message compose form, the mailto link comprising:
 an email address of an intended recipient; 
 an identifier that is associated with the action item; 
 a subject portion that includes information about an update that is be performed on the action item; and 
 an indication that the electronic communication is to be automatically sent to the intended recipient; and 
 
 sending the electronic communication to the intended recipient once the mailto link has been generated; 
 automatically updating the action item according to the identifier and the subject portion of the mailto link. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the mailto link includes a header that specifies the electronic communication is to be automatically sent to the intended recipient. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the mailto link includes an identifier associated with a second action item. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the update is a request to cancel the action item. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the update is an indication that a task has been completed. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising receiving a communication containing the update from the remote computing device without displaying the communication in an inbox of the electronic communication application. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising determining whether the intended recipient is the same as the sender of the electronic communication.